Translator: SumTLMan
Farina was well acquainted with her student Shirley’s temperament. She knew that Shirley must be pondering over how to offer a heartfelt apology and seek forgiveness.
Though it might be a case of locking the stable door after the horse has bolted, the crux of the matter was that Shirley was at fault, and an apology was indeed warranted.
However, despite waiting for what seemed like an eternity, Farina didn’t see any sign of Shirley’s “performance.” Turning around, she saw Shirley holding her head in her hands, exuding an air of “I wish I were invisible.”
A puzzled frown crossed Farina’s face; what in the world was Shirley doing? This was a person who was normally as fearless as a lion and had never been one to hold her tongue. Had she suddenly lost her nerve?
If Shirley didn’t apologize, it would be a dent to Farina’s own reputation as a mentor. Left with no other choice, Farina had to bite the bullet and ask, “So, what exactly happened here?”
“Nothing, nothing much. I just utilized Gulu’s method for a bit,” replied Shirley.
“What do you mean by ‘nothing much’?”
Before Shirley could respond, Fingernail Granny across from them interjected with a smile, “Don’t be so hard on the child. It’s indeed a minor issue; don’t give her a hard time.”
Isolated from the outside world on the energy-sealed second floor, Farina was unaware of the specifics of what had happened outside, but Fingernail Granny was fully in the loop. To her, it was genuinely not a big deal.
Noting Shirley’s facial expression, hesitating as if on the brink of speech, Farina instantly knew that her pupil must have stirred up trouble again.
Discussing such a blunder openly in front of others would be embarrassing, to say the least. All Farina could do was mutter to Shirley, “We’ll settle this matter later.”
After that, Farina proceeded as if Shirley were nonexistent, extending an apology to Angel and Fingernail Granny.
Fingernail Granny, of course, was not bothered in the slightest.
Angel gave Shirley a deep look and said with a smile, “It’s no problem.”
Farina sensed a deeper meaning in Angel’s gaze but didn’t dwell on it. Setting aside the matter of Shirley, she returned to the previous topic: “… What do you think about the proposal Wizard Pat?”
Angel pondered for a moment, his expression showing slight hesitation, but eventually nodded, “Alright.”
Angel wasn’t concerned about letting Farina experience the Rhythm of the Ocean. After all, he had even let demons try it. Furthermore, the Rhythm of the Ocean is a reusable auxiliary tool; although activating it consumes a great deal of energy, it’s something he can well afford.
His hesitation wasn’t a negotiation tactic or designed to put anyone on the spot to gain a better bargaining chip.
It was purely because when he initially crafted the Rhythm of the Ocean, he intended it as a gift for Mirror Lady. Therefore, when creating the Goddess of the Sea’s image within it, he had added a host of handsome male figures around her, following Mirror Lady’s preferences — figures that included some of the big names of the Wizarding World.
Ultimately, the main reason Angel agreed was that, although the Goddess of the Sea was surrounded by the likenesses of some influential figures, they were merely approximations and not exact replicas. If anyone discovered this, at most they’d experience a sense of déjà vu. Moreover, encountering the Goddess of the Sea within the illusion isn’t easy. Unless one is extraordinarily lucky and lands near her upon entering the illusion, they’re most likely to drift through the tempestuous sea and finally perish within it.
Another reason Angel agreed was to maintain good relations with Farina.
Having made up his mind, Angel didn’t hesitate any further and took out the Rhythm of the Ocean.
When the Rhythm of the Ocean was placed on the table, all eyes were drawn to it.
Farina had once caught a fleeting glimpse of the Rhythm of the Ocean at the witness ceremony. At that time, she was only in her astral form and could only perceive its external appearance. Yet even its external shape was incredibly elegant, worthy of being considered a Magnum Opus.
Now that Farina has truly witnessed the Rhythm of the Ocean, she realizes it’s more than just its remarkable appearance. It exudes an aura similar to the real ocean… As an ocean witch herself, Farina feels an unparalleled resonance with this aura.
Shirley, who’s pretending to be an ostrich nearby, shares a similar sensation.
Although Shirley is not of the ocean lineage, her primary elemental affinity is water, making her naturally inclined towards the ocean. The moment she senses the Rhythm of the Ocean’s vibrations, she feels as if she’s submerged in a boundless azure sea. This harmony invigorates her normally sluggish water-based powers.
Just experiencing the vibrational aura of the Rhythm of the Ocean has been profound for Shirley.
She can’t help but glance at Angel, but quickly lowers her head when Angel catches her gaze. She thought she’d successfully flown under the radar since Angel hadn’t asked her about herself; the last thing she wants is to draw his attention now.
As for Fingernail Granny, despite having experienced the Rhythm of the Ocean before, she can’t help but sing its praises again.
Angel: “The Rhythm of the Ocean is an auxiliary alchemy tool. As I’ve said during the witness ceremony, its primary function is to amplify one’s affinity for water elements. And it does exactly that. However——”
Angel’s sudden pivot draws everyone’s attention.
“But its effects are more pronounced for apprentices, particularly those with a water elemental affinity.” Angel gives Shirley a brief look and continues, “Besides, it might also have some special effects on extraordinary beings with water elemental affinity.”
Angel doesn’t explicitly say that these extraordinary beings are wizards, but he hints at it because a Panaces Succubus had a significant reaction to the Rhythm of the Ocean.
“Special effects?” Farina asks with curiosity.
Angel: “Of course, it’s also possible that it has no effect at all.”
The so-called special effects are essentially “Enlightenment.” This is particularly evident for extraordinary beings connected to water. Initially, Hai’s direct awakening demonstrated this, though it’s worth noting that Hai had never used external forces and had reached this breakthrough point through gradual accumulation over time.
After explaining the effects, Angel prepared to activate the Rhythm of the Ocean. However, as a precaution, Angel warned, “During the upcoming Voyage of Experience, no matter what you see, do not speak of it or share it with others.”
With that said, Angel slowly activated the Rhythm of the Ocean.
As the seashell adorned with a mermaid glowed with a hazy light, everyone present found themselves immersed in an endless ocean.
Aside from Angel, everyone else was included, even Shirley.
If Angel was going to activate the Rhythm of the Ocean, he didn’t mind including a few more people, even if he wasn’t fond of some of Shirley’s actions.
This Voyage of Experience proved to be unlucky for the participants. Of the three people engulfed in the Rhythm of the Ocean, none lasted even two minutes. The one who endured the longest was Fingernail Granny, holding on for a minute and a half.
This implied that all three probably hadn’t even seen the face of the Goddess of the Sea before plummeting to the ocean floor.
When they came to, they all tacitly refrained from speaking, lost in contemplation.
Shirley was the first to regain her composure, having gained the least from the experience. By “gained the least,” it’s meant in comparison to Fingernail Granny and Water Ripple Witch; her foundational knowledge was incomplete, and she lacked the depth to discern the nuances of that illusory realm.
However, in terms of personal growth, Shirley’s gains were actually the most substantial.
She had been stuck in the late stages of the third level apprenticeship for a very long time, unable to find the catalyst for a breakthrough. After this experience, she distinctly felt as if the water element energy within her, which had nearly stagnated, was completely refreshed, entering an unprecedented active phase. If she could maintain this state for an extended period, she might break through the barrier and reach the pinnacle of apprentice in as little as six months.
However, maintaining this state would not be easy unless… Shirley’s eyes gleamed passionately as she looked at the Rhythm of the Ocean.
After a while, Shirley seemed to lose her enthusiasm.
If it were anyone else’s creation, she might be able to “borrow” it. But this is Angel’s, a formal wizard and also a newly appointed member of the Research Institute. It’s not something she could “borrow,” let alone seize.
Shirley sighed and cast a sidelong glance at Angel.
The Voyage of Experience had given her such a profound shock that she couldn’t fathom how such a deep understanding of “water” and the “Rhythm of the Ocean” was not the work of an ocean wizard.
Shirley couldn’t help but recall a recent conversation she had overheard in a tavern about Angel. Someone had said that Angel was a genius both in his cultivation and in alchemy. Someone else had rebutted that “genius” was an understatement; Angel was more of a monster — a monster in cultivation and alchemy alike!
At the time, Shirley had been quite unconvinced, even though her mentor had already informed her that Angel had advanced to become a formal wizard.
Shirley still believed that Angel had merely a good blend of talent and luck, with luck playing a slightly more significant role.
However, once she witnessed Angel’s work firsthand, whether in terms of aesthetic appeal, completeness, or the wondrous effects, she could see that Angel’s mastery in alchemy was not a matter of luck but of genuine depth of knowledge.
An absolute monster.
After her moment of reflection, Shirley still couldn’t put aside her desire for the Rhythm of the Ocean. She looked to her mentor, Farina, as her last hope. If Farina could purchase or trade for this Rhythm of the Ocean, Shirley believed she could break not only minor barriers but also significant ones in the future!
However, Shirley’s hope was ultimately dashed — Farina might have had the desire, but she lacked the capability.
The experience time was too short, just over a minute. But both Fingernail Granny and Water Ripple Witch were master alchemists, and that was more than enough for them to perceive the secrets of the Rhythm of the Ocean.
Enhancing one’s affinity for water magic may not have a significant impact at their level, but for apprentices, it serves as a fast-acting method that can save years, if not decades, of effort without any risks.
What especially moves Farina is Angel’s previously vague mention of a “special effect.”
Enlightenment!
This is an extraordinarily unique effect that combines guidance, correction, and awakening into one synergistic outcome. While it is most beneficial for apprentices, Farina herself felt an uplift while experiencing it.
The ocean spell she has long been prepared to create evidently gained an additional layer of insight after this Voyage of Experience.
How significant this newfound insight is to her remains uncertain for now, but it undoubtedly has had a positive impact.
This alone speaks volumes about the preciousness of the Rhythm of the Ocean.
In Farina’s assessment, among all known alchemy works related to the ocean in the Southern Region, Rhythm of the Ocean would undoubtedly land in the top three!
Given the exceptional quality of this piece, it’s no wonder that the Sea God holds it in such high esteem. Possessing the Rhythm of the Ocean would fundamentally elevate the overall strength of Song of the Deep Sea!
Farina understands the invaluable nature of the Rhythm of the Ocean, and she also knows that her chances of obtaining it in exchange for something of equivalent value are slim to none.
However, Farina never intended to trade for it in the first place. After all, she is not a part of Song of the Deep Sea, nor does she need to consider the entire lineage related to the ocean.
What she’s pondering now is, prior to experiencing the Rhythm of the Ocean, she had no idea how precious it was. After the experience, what could she possibly offer Angel as a token of her gratitude?